The 2012 Apple WWDC (developers conference) keynote presentation has just wrapped up, during which Apple unveiled the new iOS 6 for all iOS devices. One of iOS6's new features is one which will have implications for BMW models.

A new feature called "Eyes Free" will officially integrate Siri functionality into cars. BMW, together with eight other automakers, will be launching products to integrate Siri into their cars within the next 12 months (the others include GM, Mercedes, Land Rover, Jaguar, Audi, Toyota, Chrysler and Honda). Apple briefly described Eyes Free in this way: "Hands-free allows you to keep your hands on the steering wheel while you're using your phone. We want to integrate Siri even better in the car."

The photo used (posted below) to introduce Eyes Free at the WWDC keynote speech appears to be an F10 5 series steering wheel with its voice command button highlighted. Our guess is that in upcoming BMW models, Siri may be summoned via BMW's existing voice command button. How will the car know whether you are prompting the BMW built in voice commands or Siri? Perhaps it will be as easy as starting any Siri commands with "Siri" when speaking to the car's voice command system.

As for scope of functionality, expect to be able to use Siri for functions such as calling and dictation (for texts, emails, and other text inputs), music control, creating reminders, set alarms/events, and perhaps ability to control maps (iOS6 will have turn-by-turn direction navigation).

Siri integration will not only benefit English speaking BMW owners, but also those who speak other languages (covering 60 countries). Apple also announced that Siri support for Spanish, Italian, French, German and Korean is coming, as well as Mandarin for Taiwan, Cantonese for Hong Kong, and both Mandarin and Cantonese for mainland China.

We'll post more information about Siri integration into BMWs as the companies announce more details.

When I use my iPhone 4S connected via bluetooth Siri doesn't work well. Wonder how they'll get around that obstacle; better in car microphone, some type of noise cancellation, an algorithm? I bet it's going to be super glitchy.

When I use my iPhone 4S connected via bluetooth Siri doesn't work well. Wonder how they'll get around that obstacle; better in car microphone, some type of noise cancellation, an algorithm? I bet it's going to be super glitchy.

i'm sure it'll work through the usb/serial connection, not the bluetooth.

I seriously doubt it; that would majorly limit the convenience factor. I agree with the OP article that it will likely be something like saying "Siri" before a command to tell the car to relay your voice to the phone (or perhaps an extended press). Plus remember that Siri already kinda-sorta works over Bluetooth, with the majorly annoying caveat that you have to start Siri from the device itself.

I'm cautiously optimistic that something like this will be available via the phone driver update method available at www.bmw.com/update. Given that this is very little code on the BMW side, it's possible. Or BMW might make us deal with lengthy dealer updates to get it done, though I consider that unlikely considering the popularity of this feature would see service departments swamped with update requests. Or they might just go the artificial feature differentiation route and reserve it for newer models, perhaps that new nav system BMW recently announced.

And re "super glitchy", Apple tends not to do super glitchy when NOT inter-operating with third parties AND after a few dot releases. So we'll see how this goes -- though this sounds like relatively little work on each side to get right.

You're kidding me right? I can give you a list off the top of my head right now about iOS5 and all the issues the 4S has but I'll spare you and everyone else the drama.

Everything starts some place, just like your car did years ago. So give the software engineers a chance they will work it out they always do.

Or shall I say come out from the dark side be a believer you are driving a fine automobile that when the ///M badge was first put on this car it was nothing like you have today ... get my meaning? I'm sure you do.

When I use my iPhone 4S connected via bluetooth Siri doesn't work well. Wonder how they'll get around that obstacle; better in car microphone, some type of noise cancellation, an algorithm? I bet it's going to be super glitchy.

Works pretty well in my wife's X3, and pretty damn awful in my C300... So it's definitely just a matter of how well the microphone works.

Everything starts some place, just like your car did years ago. So give the software engineers a chance they will work it out they always do.

Or shall I say come out from the dark side be a believer you are driving a fine automobile that when the ///M badge was first put on this car it was nothing like you have today ... get my meaning? I'm sure you do.

I see where you're coming from but completely disagree with you, guess it's the dark side in me . Customers should not be beta users. If you're going to advertise a product and put it out on the market it should work and not be glitchy. Sure, everything has minor issues that arise here and there but Apple has dropped the ball quite a bit in the past couple of years yet it seems like everyone gives them a pass. Sorry if I ruined anyone's day with the truth.

They also announced that turn by turn directions will be available with iOS6. This means that I really don't need a nav system. What do some of you techies that understand all of this think?

It's a welcome change, but you can't tell how good the maps and service will be until you get your hands on it. Google Maps is terrible on the iPhone IMO and has many times just stopped working for me for no apparent reason even though I had network connectivity, killed and then reopened the app and even rebooted the phone. From my understanding, Google Maps will not be part of iOS6.